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Capistrano Beach, much like nearby Monarch Beach, is a small beachfront community that is part of the larger coastal city of Dana Point. The Dana Point beaches are great places to soak up the southern California sun, and there are a myriad of fun things to do in the general area. Further up the coast, Laguna Beach and Newport Beach are just two other Orange County hangouts that you will want to consider dropping in on, and if you do include such side trips during vacations to Capistrano Beach, you’ll find more attractions than you will likely have time for. Both Laguna Beach and Newport Beach are considerably busier than Capistrano Beach, which has somehow managed to maintain a small-town feel in a land where commercialization and urban development has run quite rampant. As such, those seeking a relaxed Orange County beach getaway will find Capistrano Beach to be an ideal fit.

Capistrano Beach California, which is commonly referred to as “Capo Beach,” is on the southern edge of Dana Point, and much like its parent city, it is a rather exclusive spot. As for the Capistrano Beach attractions, the lovely white-sand beach is at the top of the list. The beach here is not as wide as those that you will find up the coast in Huntington Beach and Newport Beach, for example, but it is less crowded, which is something that locals truly appreciate. In fact, some of the locals prefer to keep their beach a relative secret. Unfortunately for them, word is starting to get out, and more and more people are coming to enjoy the town’s fine slice of beachfront real estate. Backing the beach in Capistrano Beach California are hills and bluffs that help to give it an authentic Californian feel, and you will find everything here that you will need to enjoy a fun day in the sun. In addition to public restrooms, the beach offers outdoor showers to clean the sand and salt off of your body, a basketball court, a 140-space parking lot, fire pits, and a concession building that is open in the summer months.

When enjoying summertime vacations to Capistrano Beach, you can rent fishing equipment at the beach’s concession stand, as well as other beach supplies, such as chairs and umbrellas. Food and drink are also available for purchase at the concession building, so if you forget to pack some snacks, you won’t have to travel far when you get hungry or thirsty. If fishing isn’t your thing, the concessionaire also has bicycles, surf boards, and rollerblades for rent. Though the concessionaire is only open in the summertime, the beach itself is open year round, and its daily hours are 6 a.m. until 10 p.m. As such, you’ll be able to watch the sunset here whenever you please. Orange County residents can purchase a parking pass for the lot here, while out-of-towners who are enjoying vacations to Capistrano Beach can simply pay to park as they go.

Since Capistrano Beach California is such a small community, the Capistrano Beach attractions are for all intents and purposes akin to the general Dana Point attractions. Among them are the Monarch Beach Golf Links, which is a world-class golf course designed by Robert Trent Jones Jr., and the Dana Point Harbor, which boasts a fine mix of shops, restaurants, and sailing opportunities. Harbor cruises, cruises to Catalina Island, and whale-watching tours are just some of the things that can be arranged at the Dana Point Harbor. Another nearby attraction that you could include on the list of the Capistrano Beach attractions is the Mission San Juan Capistrano, which is one of California’s gems when it comes to architecture and history. It is found just inland, and as such, is extremely easy to reach.